, 1887-02-17
their thirsty comrades left behind b.

that their thirsty comrades left behind be
gan to cast wistful glances in their dircct
tion.
The loud report of a musket in the
neighborhood of the spring plunged the
chain gam and the guard into the great
est excitement.
What was the natter Had Dick
Macon fired upon Joe in the act of escap-
ing IIad Joe wrested the musket from
Dick and shot him, These were the
questions asked among the convicts. The
affair was explained in n moment
Dick Macon made his appearance, run
ming at full speed. He was almost
breathless when he came into the gang OF
prisoners.
Il had TO kill him" he gasped. ~ was
sorry enough to nave to do 1t, but he
turned on me all of a sudden with a big
stone in his hand, and II l had been a sec
ond later lie would have killed me-"
Some OF the prisoners at this
statement. but the ominous ''click' Of
the muskets quoted them, and after u
brief consultation n trlsty was dispatched
to the house to inform Col. Clay of the ac-
currence.
The wealthy convict lessee swore
roundly at first, but after a little reflection
he said;
by jovei I'm glad the fellows gone.
He WINS n heap of trouble-a pow'ful sight
of troublc-couldn't do n fair days work,
and always stirring the other men to
mutiny-it's the best thing that could
have happened"
The trusty returned to the field bearing
from Col. Clay the laconic message, cts
all right, - and the work OF the day went
on ms usual.
When the prisoners knocked of work ut
SHUTDOWN they were marched to the stock
alc, In which they were always penned up
at night, and two men were sent out with
a guard to bury the dead n
No coroner's inquest was held. 1t was
not likely that anybody would raise Il stir
over so trifiing m event ms the shooting OF
IA chain gang malefactor. A grave was
hastily dug near the place where the body
lay, and the carcass was dumped into II
hole and covered over with dirt.
In a week the affair was forgotten.
Matters at the camp moved on as usual,
with the exception OF the illness Of Dick
Macon. This young man fell i'll without
any warning, and after a few days re
signed his position, saying that he would
have to seek some lighter employment.
The great convict lessee swore at Dick,
but finally parted with him In a tolerably
good humor. The thought never crossed
his mind that the shooting OF Joe had any
thing to dc with the illness of the guard
and his desire for a change Of scene and
occupation.
So Dick Macon drew what wages were
due him and fitted away one morning,
whittier no one knew or cared to know.
The season at Bagatelle Springs was at
its height. Visitors who Ind not missed
u season for twenty years declared with
contagious enthusiasm that Bagatelfe had
never appeared to better advantage. The
hotel WINS filed with guests and the cot
tages were well patronized. Fairer wo-
men and Drawer men were never assem-
bled together to trifie away the days and
engage In midnight revels.
The gayest Of all the gay and high spir-
tied gallants who were the acknowledged
ladykillers of Bagatelle was unquestion-
ably Mr.. Richard Macon.
This young maa was n riddle to the few
students Of human nature who OCCASION
ally made him a special study. Young,
handsome, possessed of abundant means
and regarded with undisguised favor by
more than one of the reigning bellies, there
appeared to be every reason why Young
Macon should be n thoroughly happy man.
That he was not happy, in spite Of his
bright %sallies, was plain TO all who cared
to see. The days passed, and Macon was
tukhktu III ~ CbutllluOus lOuit vi pitdo~
ure. Athletic md proficient in every
manly sport and pastime, from n rowing
match to n game of croquet, it was not
surprising that his time should be fully
occupied.
Nobody knew anything against Mr..
Richard Macon, and yet there was n feel
ing unpleasant surprise in the gay cir
Gle Mt Bagatele when 1t was known that
the young man had won the heart and Il
promise of the hand Of Irene Murray, the
prettiest little blonde beauty Mt the
springs. Still 1t was difficult to give u
reason for this. Miss Murray was an
hcircss, the only child of a widowed
mother who had came to Bagatelle in
reality for her health, and not to set her
cap for n second husband. But Macon
was n handsome, generous fellow, n little
moody and queer Mt times, but in tie
main genial n clever, and, better than
all, the owner of certain mining stocks
which paid him fabulous dividends. His
..ntecedents were not known, but he
claimed kinship with highly respectable
families well known to the social world,
and no one questioned his story.
1t was the last night OF Irene Murray's
stay at Bagatelle. On the morrow she and
her mother were to return home. The
two lovers had much to say to each other,
ana they preferred 10 say IL away from
the glare of the ballroom, and away from
the sounds of flying feet and the watering
place band.
As they promenaded on the spacious
piazza of the hotel, Irene said, rs her low
ing eyes rested upon the handsome face
of her escort:
Now, Richard, dear, yon vfli follow
us soont'' $3.50. 00n
an ten days at fffthest, my darling, "
answered Richard. 81 am waiting for II
business letter which may call me to New
2 FORK, but even in that case my stay will
be short, and you will see mt before you
have begun to miss me"
Richard said the fair girl with II
tinge of melancholy in her tone, there is
only one thing needed to make me per-
fectly happy"
"Ha, hal'' laughed Richard, you
would have the old lady view me with
more favorable eyes"
THAT Is just 1t " was the earnest an
swer. mamma Is all l have left n |
do desire to please her, and yet her preju-
dices are so unreasonable.
''Of course | think SO, as they are lev
cled ut me- said Richard; "but never
mind, dear, her prejudices will vanish
.,l,.,, IL. aaao hovv davofaI I nm IN vntt